UNIONS fear the ticket office at Queen Street station may be replaced by self-service machines.

The office, which employs around 20 people, has been moved out of the station while a £100 million revamp is completed.

It is currently in the former Vale pub outside, on Dundas Street.

But the future of the ticket office once the revamp is completed is unclear,

A railway magazine report last month contained claims that the revamped station would not include a ticket office., sparking fears among staff that their jobs are in danger.

Scotrail said they are still to make a decision on the ticket office.

The firm would not say if it was going to be based at the new-look Queen Street and they did not confirm if it is to be replaced by self serving machines.

A source told The Evening Times, however, that staff are in the understanding that once the redevelopment works are finished, their role will not be in the ticket office – because it will be replaced by self service machines.

Transport union RMT was told about the article and now the organisation have vowed to get assurances from Scotrail that the workers jobs will be safe.

RMT union chief Mick Hogg said: “We are working with Scotrail just now in order to address this issue.

“Be under no illusion if we don’t get the assurances or guarantees that we actually need then we will be taking Scotrail on.”

He added: “This actually came about as a result of a comment in a railway magazine last month. Reference was made to the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street not having a ticket office. This set all sorts of alarm bells ringing as far as the trade union is concerned.

“We found that comment unacceptable, that people who actually work for Scotrail have to find out their future by reading comments in a railway magazine.”

Age Concern hit out at the possible move, saying it could discourage older people from travelling.

Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland: “A closure like this could adversely affect older and more vulnerable customers, and even discourage some from travelling.

“Many older people feel excluded by the growing trend towards automation and prefer the human interaction with staff when buying tickets. They may have security concerns with machines or simply find them confusing to use.

“Ticket offices play a valuable function in assisting customers, answering their questions, and helping them find the right ticket."

Mr Hogg admitted that the changes in the way tickets are booked is of concern for his union members.

He said: “Scotrail are coming out with new technology and ask people to buy online.

“Even the people working in the ticket office just now have signs above their counters saying buy online.

“That is more or less saying if you buy online, the people working in this ticket office will be out of jobs

“This is unacceptable and we will not be accepting any ticket office closure in any way, shape or form.”

Although a video showing an artist impression of the redevelopment works does include a ticket office inside Queen Street station, Scotrail said they have still to make a decision.

Phil Campbell, who is ScotRail Alliance Head of Customer Operations, said: “The way our customers buy tickets is changing. More and more of our customers are buying tickets online or using self-service ticket machines, which means we need to change to reflect that.

“No decisions have been made about what these changes will look like.

“We are working closely with our people and our customers on this.”

“We have a very clear policy of no compulsory redundancies – everyone who currently has a job will still have one.”

Scotrail also said that a passenger assist programme for customers who require help will continue to operate.

The redevelopment works, devised by Network Rail, will see longer trains use Queen Street Station, which is one of the busiest in the city. This will give the trains a greater capacity to ease overcrowding on key routes, including Glasgow to Edinburgh.